Colorado metallers JAG PANZER have announced the addition of Christian Lasegue as their new lead guitarist. Those familiar with the band's "Chain of Command" release will recognize his name as the lead guitarist on that album.

Guitarist Mark Briody comments: "We had set the bar pretty high for lead guitar playing with our first full-length album. There was much concern among fans and critics as to whether or not we could maintain such a high level of musicianship in the lead guitar department. Christian quelled those concerns about two seconds into his first solo. A large part of the underground popularity of 'Chain of Command' is easily attributed to the electrifying guitar playing of Christian Lasegue. Christian was a great guitar player back then and his chops are light years beyond that today. I'm excited to be working with him again."

Christian first gig back with the band will be on stage as headliners at the prestigious Keep It True festival this April in Germany.

Regarding former JAG PANZER guitarist Chris Broderick's new gig as a member of MEGADETH, Briody said, "It's not enough to just say 'Best of luck to Chris.' We're a close-knit band and Chris is a brother to all of us. He's a great guy and a close friend. We're all very excited and happy for Chris. MEGADETH fans are in for a treat, Chris is a world-class player."

MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has big news for metal fans: Gigantour is back, and Megadeth has a new guitarist. The third installment of Gigantour - the acclaimed traveling heavy music festival launched in 2005 by Mustaine--will kick off April 12 in Denver, CO with headliner Megadeth, Scandinavian death metal band IN FLAMES, Finland's CHILDREN OF BODOM, Arizona's modern extreme JOB FOR A COWBOY and Oakland, CA heavy power trio HIGH ON FIRE all confirmed. The 29-date trek will criss-cross North America and wraps May 22 in Phoenix , AZ.

Mustaine sums up the philosophy behind v, hailed by Revolver magazine as "the mother of all shred-fests" : "If the bands and the fans are treated well, then the entertained and the entertainers go home happy - it's a win-win situation." Since its inception in 2005, Gigantour has galvanized bands that emphasize true musicianship and virtuosity, offering them a new opportunity to showcase their talents. "I think that in a small way, we are cleaning up the environment of crappy bands," he says, laughing. "All of the people that really love this kind of music know that they can count on these bands to deliver the goods this year."

In other Megadeth news, the group has officially welcomed new guitarist Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) to the band after parting ways with Glen Drover - which was hinted at back in November. "I've noticed [on the Internet] that people are pissed with me over the way things were handled with Glen quitting the group," says Mustaine, "but they're gonna be pissed even more when they hear how fierce we are with Chris! Megadeth is playing at a new level." Broderick will make his live debut with Megadeth February 4 in Finland, where the group--guitarist/singer Mustaine, guitarist Broderick, drummer Shawn Drover and James Lomenzo on bass - is kicking off a long string of international dates which wrap March 14 in Bangalore, India. The full itinerary, including Gigantour UK dates, is below.

Gigantour features bands hand-picked by Mustaine with a sharp eye on true musicianship and a heavy focus on top-notch guitarists. The first incarnation in 2005 included DREAM THEATER, FEAR FACTORY, NEVERMORE, LIFE OF AGONY, SYMPHONY X, DRY KILL LOGIC and BOBAFLEX, while the 2006 trek included LAMB OF GOD, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, OVERKILL, INTO ETERNITY, SANCTITY and THE SMASHUP. The trek always offers a strong connection between fans and musicians.

BODY OF SCARS — the new Phoenix, Arizona-based band featuring JAG PANZER drummer Rikard Stjernquist and former 40 GRIT vocalist/guitarist James Santiago — has made its debut, self-titled CD available for FREE dowlnoad via the group's MySpace page. The songs will be posted five at a time for a period of two weeks.

BODY OF SCARS' album was released on October 2.

Formed in August 2006, BODY OF SCARS' current lineup is completed by lead guitarist Randy Davis (MOTIVE) and bassist Brian Shoemake.

NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane has revealed a partial track listing for his upcoming solo debut, tentatively due in early 2008 via Century Media Records. Dane has written about eight tracks with former SOILWORK guitarist-turned-producer Peter Wichers and has also collaborated with ex-HIMSA guitarist Matt Wicklund on a few songs. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include:

Video footage of guitarist Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) in his Southern California studio rehearsing on July 29, 2007 for this summer's Nevermore shows can be viewed below.

Nevermore has begun the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2005's "This Godless Endeavor", tentatively due next year via Century Media Records. "Jeff [Loomis, Nevermore guitarist] just gave me a new song to work on and it fucking crushes!" Dane said in late June. "Since all [the songs for my upcoming solo album] have been pretty much finished for some time, I'm working hard on the new Nevermore stuff, and man, Jeff is kicking some major ass!"

Guitarist Chris Broderick (JAG PANZER, NEVERMORE) has uploaded a "five-octave arpeggio" video clip that was done for Guitar World's "Betcha Can't Play This" DVD. You can check it out at this location.

Chris has been playing guitar since he was eleven years old and has been teaching for the last 14 years. Styles range from classical, rock, blues, and jazz. He started taking lessons at 14 years of age studying guitar as well as voice, violin, and piano. Chris has a degree in classical guitar music performance at the University of Denver and the Lamont School of Music. He has performed in many master classes including ones given by David Russell, Benjamin Verdery, and his primary instructor, Ricardo Iznaola. In addition, Chris has taken classes such as jazz improvisation, chord voicing, advanced music theory, and sight-reading.

NEVERMORE guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-TESTAMENT) has issued the following statement:

"It is with deep regret that I will not be able to perform at any of European festivals over the next week with NEVERMORE, as I am now in hospital being treated with dialysis. The total kidney failure that I thought was a few months away has already happened. I am extremely disappointed with this situation, but there is nothing I can do. I wish the guys in NEVERMORE all the best and hope that as many of you fans as possible give them your support in Europe."

As previously reported, Smyth was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure last fall, the result of a congenital birth defect. Says Smyth. "JAG PANZER guitarist Chris Broderick will fill in for Smyth on the upcoming dates as he has done on the recent U.S. tour.

NEVERMORE were forced to cancel their scheduled appearance with IN FLAMES, THROWDOWN and EVERGREY on Saturday, May 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan after the band's lead singer, Warrel Dane, came down with an unspecified illness. No further information is currently available.

As previously reported, NEVERMORE guitarist Steve Smyth was recently diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure, the result of a congenital birth defect. JAG PANZER guitarist Chris Broderick is filling in for Smyth on the current U.S. tour, after which Smyth will rejoin the band for their European festival dates. NEVERMORE also announced that their bass player and one of the founding members Jim Sheppard will soon be undergoing a minor procedure for Crohn's Disease, a condition he's managed for over 15 years. Unable to perform with the band during the first part of their tour with IN FLAMES, Sheppard is being temporarily replaced by longtime friend James MacDonough (ex-MEGADETH, ICED EARTH).

Colorado Springs-based power metallers BATTLE CRY report that Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin from the legendary JAG PANZER will lend his voice for some backing parts and possibly lead on a bonus track for their upcoming self-titled debut EP. Other notable guest musicians set to appear on the recording are Matt Aub, vocalist from Virginia-based TIMELORD and formerly with Limb Music Products recording artists FORGOTTEN REALM, and Mike Pittman from Colorado Springs' DISTANT WARNING, who also has done some fill-in live work with the U.K.-based SHADOWKEEP. The EP is currently being recorded at Enharmonic Studios in Colorado Springs and is slated for a summer release on the band's own Nightfall Records label.

Having performed in over 20 countries across North America and Europe supporting their album Buried In Oblivion, Canadian progressive death metal band Into Eternity just added a new country to their resume, Mexico. Guitarist/growler Tim Roth returned from the Monterrey Metal Fest last week with the highest praise: “The festival was a complete success. We went on at 1:35pm on Saturday to thousands of fans. The crowd seemed hungry for metal. ‘Spiraling Into Depression’ went over the best from our set and after the show we met a lot of fans and signed everything that they had.”

Jag Panzer guitarist Mark Briody, whose band headlined the second stage concurred: “I had high expectations for our first appearance in Mexico. I expected a festival attended by hordes of crazed metal fans; my expectations were exceeded, and then exceeded again and again.

“There were 2 stages and they were a good distance apart, and to watch the whole crowd move from stage to stage was incredible. I noticed something unusual from the stage during the first chorus of the song: I’d see about one-fourth of the crowd singing along. By the next chorus , about half the crowd was singing, and by the end the whole crowd was singing. It was great to see people who were unfamiliar with the song learn it on the spot and participate.

“Sign me up for any more shows in Mexico. Mexico RULES!”

Into Eternity began their North American tour yesterday with the first of 7 headlining shows:

After these dates the band will be touring with Hate Eternal, Krisiun, Incantation, and All Shall Perish (dates follow). Into Eternity will also tour North America with Hammerfall and Edguy, and then again with Stratovarius.

Colorado’s Jag Panzer and Century Media Records will release a strictly limited 7” on black vinyl (500 copies only) around Jag Panzer's appearance on this year’s Bang Your Head festival. For this collector’s item the band recorded a cover-version of “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald”, originally by Gordon Lightfoot. The b-side will feature “The Mission (1943)” from their current album “Casting The Stones”.

Guitarist Mark Briody explains the unique choice for a cover-version:

I’ve always loved dramatic, epic music. Songs like “Heaven And Hell” or “Beyond The Realms Of Death” quickly became favorites of mine. But my introduction to this type of song wasn’t even a heavy metal song. The song that first caught my attention was a dark tragic tale of a shipwreck in the Great Lakes. The song was called “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and it retold the true story of the sinking of the freighter ship Edmund Fitzgerald. I remember taking my small transistor radio to bed and listening to the radio all night just to hear this song.

The 7” will be available at Bang Your Head, Heavy Magazine, the band and Century Media’s mail order.

JAG PANZER and PAINMUSEUM have been confirmed for the Louder Harder Faster festival, set to take place June 3-5 at the Crocodile Rock Cafe in Allentown, PA. This will be a unique event for PAINMUSEUM: When drummer Bobby Jarzombek (ICED EARTH, HALFORD) was unable to cancel prior engagements for this particular performance, Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT, ex-SLAYER, SYSTEMATIC, FORBIDDEN) was called upon to fill in for this one night only. Also performing with PAINMUSEUM will be Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X).

The highlight of the festival will be an extremely rare performance by the classic TESTAMENT lineup of Chuck Billy (vocals), Eric Peterson (guitar), Alex Skolnick (guitar), Greg Christian (bass) and Louie Clemente (drums). The weekend of metal mayhem will also include performances by the full original lineup of New York thrash titans NUCLEAR ASSAULT and SPEED\KILL/HATE, featuring members of OVERKILL.

Colorado power metal band JAG PANZER and Canadian progressive death metal artists INTO ETERNITY will perform at Mexico’s Monterrey Metal Fest Vol. II. The one-day fest, May 28th, will also include performances from WASP, Danzig, Motorhead, Hammerfall, Metal Church, Mago de Oz and more. This will be the first performance in Mexico for both bands. JAG PANZER’s guitarist Mark Briody commented on the upcoming performance, “Mexico, finally! For the past few years I've been hearing about the killer shows and great metal fans in Mexico, and I kept wondering, 'When will we play there?' At last it's happening, and I haven't been this excited about a gig in a long time!”

JAG PANZER will also be playing May 7th at Cleveland’s BW&BK Fest and, confirmed today, Friday June 3rd at Allentown, PA’s Louder Harder Faster Fest.

Touring the U.S. throughout 2005, INTO ETERNITY recently completed their dates supporting Finland’s Amorphis. Wrapping up their headlining Canadian dates tomorrow April 21st and 22nd in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. The band is also confirmed for both the Hate Eternal, Krisiun, Incantation, All Shall Perish and Stratovarius U.S. tours. Into Eternity were also recently added to SMNnews.com Dwell In Darkness Festival lineup complete information on Dayton, Ohio’s two-day, June 10-11.

Canada's Into Eternity has been confirmed as the latest band added to the line-up of the 2005 Monterrey Metal Fest to be held on Saturday May 28, 2005 at the Auditorio Coca Cola in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Legendary American power metal band Jag Panzer and the new up and coming American death metal band Lupara have been confirmed as the latest acts to take part in the line-up of the 2005 Monterrey Metal Fest to be held on Saturday May 28, 2005 at the Auditorio Coca Cola in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Jag Panzer will be playing their 1st ever show in Mexico. They will make the trip south of the border in support of their latest cd "Casting The Stones" released via Century Media in October 2004.

Lupara is the new band fronted by guitarist Jeremy Wagner (Ex-Broken Hope) who will be releasing their new 3 song self titled EP in March 2005.

The festival line-up to date is the following, with more bands to be announced in the coming days: More...

Century Media is proud to announce that Israeli progressive metal band Orphaned Land will be appearing this September at Atlanta’s ProgPower USA VI. This will be the band’s first-ever appearance in the United States. Vocalist Kobi Farhi is thrilled to be a part of this year’s festival and sent this message to fans, “We are happy and excited to announce that we have confirmed our debut show in the U.S.A., and we are coming to bring you a storm from the ORPHANED LAND. Hurricane Ivan was nothing here comes the Flood!! See you all at ProgPower.”

"Orphaned Land was the first band I approached about playing this year’s festival,” says ProgPower USA promoter Glenn Harveston. “I have been listening to the band since their early releases starting with 1994’s Sahara, and 1996’s El Norra Allil. I can say that 2004’s Mabool was one of the year’s most original and exotic albums. I’m honored to be able to bring them to the U.S. to be part of ProgPower USA VI." The prestigious festival has previously hosted labelmates Tad Morose, Into Eternity, Mercenary, Jag Panzer and Blind Guardian.

Swedish metallers MORGANA LEFAY are the latest addition to the 2005 edition of the Bang Your Head festival (the 10th Anniversary edition) which is set to take place on June 24th and 25th in Balingen, Germany. Tickets are available at the ticket-hotline (+49-74 57-9 13 93) and via the homepage. Pre-sale cost of the tickets is 59 Euros (plus shipping). Organizers have "limited" tickets to 20, 000, to keep the one-stage event relaxed and somewhat intimate. More information can be found at Bang-Your-Head.de.